Pt. Madan Lal Sharma vs Rakesh Kumar

This revision has been preferred by the father of the deceased Anoop Kumar alias Pinta seeking setting aside/ cancellation of bail order dated

01-11-2001 in respect of accused Rakesh Kumar, formulated by 2nd Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu in case entitled State v. Rakesh Kumar

and another, for offence under Sections 302/34 RPC.

Facts of the case, the necessary narration of which in resume may be noticed. The occurrence is stated to have taken placed on 30-01-1997 in

which Anop Kumar alias Pinta son of the petitioner was murdered by respondents-1 and 2 along with Romesh Chander, who is absconding. A

case under Sections 302/34 RPC stood registered on the FIR lodged by the petitioner in this behalf in Police Station, R.S.Pura. on the conclusion

of investigation, challan against all the three accused were presented before Munsiff, Judicial Magistrate, R.S.Pura who in turn committed the same

to the court of Sessions Judge, Jammu and subsequently stood transferred to 2n Additional Sessions Judge, jammu for trial. By order dated 14-

11-1998, respondents-1 and 2 were charged under Sections 302/34, whereas accused Romesh Chander was preceded u/s 512 Cr. P.C for

having absconded for the commission of offence of murder. During the trial, statements of 11 out of a total 24 witnesses have been recorded. The

evidence collected by the prosecution of four eye-witnesses, namely, Madan Lal, petitioner, Sanjeev Kumar, Vipin Kumar and Nirmal Kanta, wife

of the petitioner. Out of whom, statements of three witnesses have been recorded. The evidence of Nirmal Kanta is stated to have not been

recorded on account of mental ailment because of her son's death. It appears that while the prosecution evidence was still to be completed,

respondents applied for their release on bail. The 2 Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu, passed order dated 01-11-2001 and allowed the

application by admitting the accused to bail. The father of the deceased, whose statement as prosecution witness has been recorded, has assailed

the legality and propriety of the order granting bail without assigning sound and justifiable reasons at the time when the evidence of other material

witnesses including the eye-witnesses is still to be recorded. It is further stated that the evidence provided by the witnesses, have cogently

implicated the respondents-accused and Romesh Chander, who is absconding in the murder of the son of the petitioner. That ever since the

accused are released on bail, they are misusing the concession intimidating the witnesses whose evidence is yet to be recorded.

Mr. CM. Gupta, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, has vehemently argued that the 2nd Additional Sessions Judge has arbitrarily

exercised the discretion in granting bail, without application of mind and adverting to the evidence of the witnesses recorded during trial in proper

perspective. Lastly, it was submitted that the manner in which the bail has been granted clearly smacks of impropriety and capriciousness of the

Trial court.

Mr. S.C. Gupta, learned counsel appearing for respondent 1 and 2, however, contended that the Trial Court has exercised discretion in a

judicious manner and granted bail to the accused. According to Mr. Gupta respondents advocate, the accused were in custody for more than four

years and the delay is not attribute to the, it is further stated by him that continued detention of accused in custody would impinge upon their

constitutional right of life and liberty. Lastly, it was submitted that there is nothing brought on record by the prosecution that the accused have

misused the concession either by tampering the evidence or warning the witnesses or otherwise violated the terms and conditions on which the

concession of bail was allowed.

I have heard the arguments advanced by the learned counsel appearing for the respective parties, at length and also gone through the relevant

provisions of law touching the matter in controversy.

On going through the impugned order passed by the Trial Court in granting bail to the petitioners therein, it is elicited that the grounds, which

weighed with the Court for consideration, were that about 30 calendar were fixed for recording prosecution evidence in the case, but only 11/12

witnesses out of 24 witnesses were recorded within a period of more than four years and that the accused were in custody ever since 1st week of

February, 1997 and in following the principles laid down by S. Ajit Singh v. State of J&K reported in 2000 KLJ 46. it is not disputed by Mr. CM.

Gupta learned counsel appearing for the petitioner that out of a totality of 24 witnesses cited in the challan, prosecution has been able to produce

and examine only 11 witnesses during the space of more than four years. It is also admitted that delay in the trial on account of non-production and

non-examination of prosecution witnesses is not wholly attributable to the accused. In such a situation, it was for the prosecution to make out a

case of reasonable and valid justifiable for not promptitude and acknowledged fundamental rights of the accused to have a speedy and expeditious

trials long it relates to their life and liberty. It is bounden duty of the prosecution to ensure that the trial is concluded without any unnecessary delay,

as mandated by Articles 21 of the constitution of India. For delay in recording evidence, the prosecution may have many reasons, but it must make

out a case for that purpose so as to oppose the grant of bail to the accused involved in a murder case, effectively. It is, however, not the situation in

the present case. Perhaps, this is the reason that the State has not come out with a revision against the order of the Trial court seeking

cancellations/ setting aside of the bail orders of the respondents.

It is well settled proposition of law that once the bail has been granted, it cannot be withdrawn unless proved to have been abused and that it is

no longer conducive in large interest of the Justice that the accused to remain on bail. The accused once released on bail, it can be cancelled only if

it is found that the accused has tampered with the evidence by intimidating the prosecution witnesses with a view to thwart the course of justice.

The concession can also be withdrawn if it is proved that the accused on account of his failure to appear in the Court or he is indulging in the acts

of violence to revenge against those, who have booked him in the case and the prosecution witnesses. Before setting aside on the basis of the

material placed on record suggesting that the accused either absconding or subverting the course of justice by threatening the witnesses or by any

other reasons justifying the cancellation of the bail. It may further be pointed out that the bail so granted by the Trial Court in exercise of its

discretion would not justify interference in a mechanical manner without satisfying the existence of ground justifying the accused remaining at large

not conducive either in the fair trial or in the interest of public at large. It is, however, apt to point out that no explanation is forthcoming from the

learned Government Advocate in this case to justify delay in examining the witnesses, which unnecessary led to protracting the trial. In this

backdrop, referring to the order impugned, it cannot be said, to suffer from any infirmity or legal impropriety inviting interference in revision.

In view to the aforesaid discussion, I do not find any merit in this revision. The same is according dismissed.